Monday, March 7, 2011

A look I recognize...

We were excited to be invited to celebrate with friends on Friday night. It was an adoption party for their son. Their story started many years ago as a simple, two week commitment to show a NYC child what it was like to live in the suburbs in VA. This little guy kept coming back summer after summer. And with each visit, more truth was revealed. A journey, never easy began, and last week it was final. He has a forever family. A family that loves God first, and will love him unconditionally.

As Rex and I sipped coffee, watched the pictures flash on screen and enjoyed the excitement in the room, I fought tears and I remembered, and observed. We laughed as he opened his gifts, counting each dollar and finally exclaiming- I'm going to Wal-Mart. He sported his new wrestling belt and counted the packages of peanuts. Simple things. But as I stood there, I knew that behind all the smiles, and all the joy there was more to the story.

I asked his mom how things were going. She smiled and I immediately recognized the look in her eyes. I knew it. I live it. The look that says I am overjoyed, and overwhelmed. The look that says I wouldn't trade being his mom for anything, but this joy is wrapped in the fear and exhaustion and raw emotion that the struggles he brings with him will never end. She shared some recent conversation. I shared her pain. This week, I'm thankful for the connection with my friend, and so much more.

forever families

success on the scales

a son's dry pullup in the morning- two in a row

the sound of pouring rain

waking up to the dread of having to finish laundry, and finding my husband did it during the night

hard kisses

yummy new recipes that just happen to be healthy

brotherly love and a family effort to get a scary job done

talking with my Daddy and being able to say, see you Friday

the soothing music that plays when I click on a Holy Experience

that when I cry, people care enough to ask why

for one week of school without notes or phone calls from the teacher to report misbehavior :)

successful surgeries for two people I love

that my kids love me, even when I yell

teenage arms offering hugs just when I need them

that every day God reminds me I don't yet fully understand His great love for me

the example my husband is setting for our family- even when I fight him on the scariness of change

Saturday sister talks

finally choosing to delay gratification instead of impulsive spending

the sweet smile on my ever shrinking mother-in-laws face

finding peace in the midst of chaos

praying in my car

long awaited organizational announcements and the excitement of new beginnings

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My family

5 +

I'm Robin- I'm a simple girl from Tennessee who loves Jesus. I'm blessed to be a wife, mom, grandmother and a Marketing professional --- juggling it all and writing about it here.

I married the love of my life in 1986. Rex is my rock and my friend and I can't imagine doing this life without him.

1+1=2

We dreamed of a big family (wanted 12) but God had a different plan. Struggling with infertility, we became foster parents in hopes of adopting. It was our plan, not God's and we said never again. After 8 years of infertility Shayne was conceived. And God showed us that He gives us good gifts, more than we asked for and better than we could ever have imagined.

2+1=3

We still had a void in our hearts. So in obedience, doing it God's way this time we opened our hearts and home to foster parenting. We have had a few children come and go- none without leaving an imprint on our lives forever. Nothing could have prepared us for meeting our youngest sons in the ER parking lot on 10/23/06, with no idea how our lives would forever be changed. With their adoptions finally legal on November 21, 2009 we became five.

3+2=5

And that was the beginning- Emily and Kendall came into our lives and family in 2014 , and we grew by one more when sweet Penelope was born.

5+3=8

Sometimes we let our crazy hang out. Always, we love loud. Different than what I imagined as a little girl but I wouldn't have it any other way.